Rancho Mesa's Alyssa Burley and Media Communications & Client Services Coordinator Megan Lockhart discuss early return to work programs and why they are a cost effective solution for keeping workers’ compensation costs under control.

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Director/Host/Producer: Alyssa Burley

Guest: Megan Lockhart

Producer/Editor: Lauren Stumpf

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “News Room News” by Spence

Transcript

Alyssa Burley: Hi, this is Alyssa Burley with Rancho Mesa Media Communications and Client Services Department. Thank you for listening to today's top Rancho Mesa News, brought to you by our safety and risk management network, StudioOne™.

Welcome back, everyone. Today, my guest is Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator with Rancho Mesa. We’re going to discuss early return to work programs and why they are a cost effective solution for keeping workers’ compensation costs under control. Megan, welcome to the show.

Megan Lockhart: Yeah thanks for bringing me in on this one, Alyssa.

AB: Regardless how effective a company’s safety program, they’re bound to occasionally have a workplace injury that results in an employee not being able to perform their regular job duties for a period of time. The treating physician may restrict the weight an employee can lift or the amount of time they’re on their feet. So, whatever the restrictions, experts recommend providing temporary alternative jobs as a way to keep the employee working and engaged.

Megan, will you explain early return to work programs for our listeners?

ML: Sure, when a company implements an early return to work program, they’re creating a pathway that allows employees, who have been injured or had an illness, to come back to work sooner than if they were to stay at home until they are fully recovered. The program gives the employee a job that is better suited for their current physical condition until they’re well enough to return to their normal job duties.

AB: And why would an employer want to implement an early return to work program?

ML: So, there are several reasons to implement this type of program that benefits both the employer and employee.

Employees who stay at home with an injury often feel like they are no longer part of the team which may lead them to contact an injury attorney. Bringing the employee back to work as soon as possible, regardless of the job they’ll be doing, keeps them in their regular routine, gives them a purpose, and shows the employee that their company wants them there.

Employers can reduce the likelihood of litigated claims if the employee returns to work sooner rather than later. Bringing an employee back on modified duty allows the employer to have direct communication with the employee and also shows the employee that the company cares about them and will make accommodations in order to keep them employed. This will ultimately lower temporary disability payments which can also lower claim reserves.

AB: What can employers do today to implement an early return to work program?

ML: So first, let your employees know that your company has an early return to work program. That sets the expectation that if the employee is injured, the company will do what it can to bring the employee back to work doing a modified version of their job, or something else until they are fully recovered. Injured employees will not be sitting at home if they’re able to contribute in some way.

Then, create a job description for potential modified positions. Identify and engage with specific doctors within your network and ensure that these job descriptions are on file. This process can help accelerate employees back to work whether they’re in the field, warehouse, office, etc.

AB: Absolutely, and our clients can use the RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal to generate job descriptions and manage employee’s modified duties in the Risk Management Center.

So Megan, if listeners have questions about an early return to work program, what should they do?

ML: Listeners can register for our Return to Work: A Cost Effective Solution webinar on Thursday, March 24th of 2022 through ranchomesa.com. Click on workshops and webinars on our website in the navigation bar and click register online for the webinar.

AB: Megan, thank you for joining me in StudioOne™.

ML: Thanks for having me.

AB: This is Alyssa Burley with Rancho Mesa. Thanks for tuning into our latest episode produced by StudioOne™. For more information, visit us at RanchoMesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.